292 



Director's Report. 



The past summer has been a busy one at Plymouth^ and tlie 

 steady continuance of magnificent weather has made shore-collecting, 

 as well as dredging and tow-netting from the boats, possible at all 

 points in the neighbourhood. The fine weather, as compared to the 

 weather of last summer, seems, moreover, to have had a distinct 

 influence on the pelagic fauna of the Channel. There has been 

 towards the end of the summer a continuance of unusually interest- 

 ing surface forms, and at the same time almost a total absence of 

 some of the creatures usually found in abundance. For instance, 

 Aurelia has for some unaccountable reason not been found in the 

 Sound this summer, although I have heard of its occurrence in 

 usual numbers in the Solent. Last summer brought innumerable 

 millions of Noctiluca, so that the sea for miles showed orange- 

 red tracks through the dense crowding of these infusorians. This 

 summer has produced practically none. 



I particularly note the absence of Aurelia, since it is a form 

 used as a type in teaching, and therefore often ordered from us. 

 It will be impossible to supply Aurelia through the coming winter. 



The most important animals captured during the summer are 

 mentioned by one or other of the Staff in the form of special notes, 

 and need, therefore, not be enlarged upon here. 



Several gentlemen have taken advantage of the Laboratory to 

 carry on research. 



T. H. Riches, Esq., as a Founder of the Association, has con- 

 tinued his studies in Nemertines. 



The British Association for the Advancement of Science nominated 

 three gentlemen, viz. — 



Edgar Allen, Esq., from the Zoological Laboratory of University 

 College, London, for six weeks. 



Gregg Wilson, Esq., Zoological Laboratory, University of Edin- 

 burgh, for one month. 



F. W. Gamhle, Esq., Berkeley Fellow, Owens College, Man- 

 chester^ for two months. 



